The Grange, Alresford

The Grange takes my breath away. Words do not it justice, it is the most beautiful location tucked away in Northington, Alresford.

Find out why this is one of my favourite places in Hampshire.

The Grange at Northington in Alresford, Winchester, Hampshire.

Location

Let’s start with the location, it is north of Winchester, in Alresford not far from Northington. This part of Hampshire is still classic pristine English countryside. An area unaffected by the over zealous housing regime forced upon the county by the government and free from urban sprawl.

The Candover Valley is picturesque and captures the beauty of ‘old Hampshire’ perfectly.

You just can’t beat where The Grange is located. It’s one of my favourite places in Hampshire and it’s so quiet, apart from the natural sounds of the birds, the cows in the fields and the rushing of the river.

The Grange

As soon as I set eyes on the long drive and the beautiful neo-classical building with its big pillars, I fell in love with it. My imagination immediately whisked me away and in my mind I was hosting lavish gatherings there, directing Hollywood films, Vogue photoshoots and throwing wild weekend parties.

The Grange has the most wonderful feeling, a vibe that I just can’t put into words. It has ethereal qualities and it certainly cast its spell on me.

Bex at The Grange at Northington in Alresford, Winchester, Hampshire.

It’s a big mansion, for want of a better word, surrounded by beautifully tended grounds. The long drive ends with a huge roundabout that circles the side of the house.

From the front of the house, you can look out down across the green to the river. And, for as far as your eye can see in any direction it’s just rolling English countryside!

We wandered round the beautiful pillars to find a second building which leads down to the lower level with walls covered in white rose bushes.

It’s no wonder that this beautiful building and its grounds are used for weddings, by famous directors and celebrities for fashion collaborations and films and for opera and dance events. Inside there’s a huge auditorium that hold annual events annually. Cough cough, Baz Luhrmann and Elle Fanning have both used The Grange for projects, cough cough!

While I’m not bothered about an on site cafe, for me the only downside is there are no public toilets which puts a natural time limit on time spent here.

Look Inside

While the grounds and exterior are open to the public it’s not possible to go inside to look around. The property is still privately owned by a family and under the guardianship of English Heritage. However, The Grange has created a virtual reality experience so you can look inside.

Visit The Grange

I want to go back with a good book and a picnic lunch to spend an afternoon enjoying the setting. It’s so tranquil and sometimes you need to find a place where you can escape to and feel like you’re away from the whole world.

The love seat at The Grange at Northington in Alresford, Winchester, Hampshire. — The Love Seat ❤️

My Mum told me she regularly took me to The Grange for picnics when I was growing up. Apparently it used to look more abandoned, with broken windows, graffiti and was in a general run down state. She loved how dilapidated it used to look and couldn’t believe it had been cleaned up so well. She likes how serene it is and says the feel of the place has not changed.

Honestly, I could not be more made up with this dreamy Hampshire discovery. For me this is what travel, whether it’s to far flung tropical destinations or somewhere closer to home, is all about.